Veterans Donation Campaign Update

Posted on by Steven Konkoly

Given today’s tragic significance to our nation’s military, most specifically our selfless Special Operations community, I have decided to announce the results of the donation campaign surrounding the launch of my latest book, Black Flagged Vektor. Fictional, yet accurate renditions of service members, (particularly our Special Ops heroes) figure prominently in my novels, so I thought it only appropriate to split my target donation amount between two groups that best represent our nation’s finest.

Screen Shot 2013-08-06 at 11.15.27 AMI have donated $1000 to the Wounded Warriors Project and $1000 to the Navy SEAL Foundation (my military roots begin with the Naval Special Warfare community). Both of these amounts will be matched, bringing the total to $4000. This brings the total amount given to these (and other) worthy Veteran’s organizations to $11,000 over the past two years.

Screen Shot 2013-08-06 at 11.20.43 AMYour support of my books has made this possible, so please accept my sincerest and most enthusiastic THANK YOU! Spread the word, and lets continue to support dedicated, heroic men and women that TAKE THE FIGHT TO THE ENEMY.

Historical Background: Two years ago, on August 6th, 31 Special Operations service members were killed when their transport helicopter brought down by enemy fire. They were on their way to reinforce a unit of Army Rangers engaged in a brutal firefight nearby. Six years earlier, in late June, 19 Special Operations personnel were killed during Operation Red Wings, when a Quick Reaction Force helicopter was shot down during the rescue attempt of an overwhelmed SEAL patrol, killing all on board. Three of the four SEALs in the patrol were also killed that day.

Black Flagged Apex Donation Campaign…

Posted on by Steven Konkoly

UPDATE 12/23/12

The Donation Campaign is bringing out the best in everyone, and I feel better about NOT counting book sale numbers to determine the final amount. A good friend and reader has generously kicked off the campaign…ONCE AGAIN…with a $100 donation. Thank you, Greg. That immediately brings the total to $2100 (with match). I have commitments from others, which I haven’t counted, but suspect will bring the total to $2200.  The Black Flagged Series has contributed nearly $5000 to wounded veterans so far…I expect this to increase over the holidays. 

Thank you to everyone for a great start!

UPDATE 12/21/12:

Based on your votes, I will once again donate to the Wounded Warrior Project, an undeniably worthy cause. I’m taking a different approach to the donations this time. Instead of counting books and stressing myself out, I am starting at the $850 mark, which has been “our” contribution for each campaign over the past two book launches. At the end of January, I will decide whether to increase it. I very likely will. Any individual donations outside of book sales will be added to the $850 mark. Keep in mind that the total amount raised is matched by my employer.

GET THE WORD OUT! Buy Black Flagged Apex for Kindle

THANK YOU AGAIN for your support of a great cause

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11/20/12: You Decide!

Once again, I will be donating a portion of the proceeds from the initial sales of Black Flagged Apex to charity, but this time, I will take reader input regarding the charity. I have pre-selected three charities and included a poll to collect your votes. The combined total donated from my last two book launches was $3500, and all of this was sent to organizations that support wounded veterans (Disabled American Veterans-DAV and Wounded Warrior Project-WWP). Here are the choices. You can click on the links to see each charity’s homepage. Vote Below!

1. Continue with the Wounded Warrior Project – As a veteran, I can’t underscore the importance of supporting the shattered lives of the brave men and women wounded in combat.

2. Donate to Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS) – In my first Black Flagged book, a police officer is rather brutally killed (unintentionally) by the main character. I took some heat from readers about that scene, which really drove home the gut reaction people have (even in fiction) to the death of a police officer.

3. Donate to Kids in Distressed Situations (KIDS) – Specifically the Hurricane Sandy relief effort. With the holidays around the corner, this charity looks after the needs of young children and teens affected by the storm, some of whom lost everything. If this charity is selected, I will make an early donation in time for the Christmas.

Please vote, and spread the word!